Antisiphonic flush valve and silencer



May 26, 1942. L. cRlss ANTI-SIPHONIC FLUSH VALVE AND SILENCE'R Filed Feb. 13, 1939 Patented May 26, 1942 l ANTISIPHONIO FLUSH VALVE AND SILENCER Loren E.l Criss, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 13, 1939, Serial'No. 256,087

5 claims. (ol. 13j-'111) My invention relates to flush valves of the ball cock type such as are generally used for flushing toilet bowls and the principal' objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon and sim-y plify the construction ofthe existing forms of flushing valves, further, to provide ay valve that will prevent water -from the toilet bowls and ushing tanks from being drawn by siphonic action downwardly through the main water line in the event that the latter for any cause ceases to function at a point below one or more ush valves that are connected to the main water supply line and which condition generally exists in buildings having two or more oors with toilet bowls and tanks on the upper floors and further, to provide a flush valve that will be highly effective in silencing the noise generally produced by water rushing through the valve during flushing operations. 1

A further object of my invention is, to provide an anti-siphonic flush valve that is relatively simple in construction, capable of being easily and quickly installed and which acts. instantly to automatically break any siphonic action that may develop in the water supply line to which the valve isv connected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a flushing tank and showing my improved anti-siphonic iiush valvev and ball cook positioned therein.

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through the upper portion of the valve and` showing thev same.

tional toilet flush tank and, extending' through the bottom thereof is a pipe I I that is connected to a main so as to serve the tank with water.

Detachably connected to the end of the pipe I I within the tank I0, is a litting 'I2 that includes a vertically disposed tubular memberv I3 and, projecting from the lower portion thereof'is a short horizontally disposed tubular member I4 having an upturned end I5. Detachably secured to the upturned end I5 of the tubular member I4, is the lower part I6 of a valve housing and, formed integral therewith is a concentrically' arranged short vertically disposed tube. AI'I, theV upper end of which is flared outwardly to provide' a valve seat I8. Overlying the upper end of the housing I6, is the edge of a diaphragm I9, pref-- erably of rubber or analogous elastic material..

the central portion of whichj is adapted to rest on the valve 'seat I8 and this diaphragm is clamped to the lower housing member I8 by the,

overlying lower edge `of an upper valve housing member 20. Y V

` Screws 2l or like l fastening Adevices pass through the edges of the upper housing memberv 20, diaphragm I9, 'and the upper edge of the low,-

' er housing member I6. Positioned on top of the closed at its lower endY by a partition 25and,

formed integral with and projecting vupwardly from the top of this partition is a conical lug; 26, through which is formed a small vertically disposed port 21. As illustrated in Figs; 2 and 3, the bore through tube 23 is somewhat-smaller than the diameter of port 21 andthus water will flow from the chamber in housingAZ faster; than water may enter saidA vchamber through the smaller bore of tube 23.4 Arranged for sliding movement in tubular member 24 isa/plunger 23 carrying at its lower end a disci 29V oirubber or the like, which is adapted to -bear v,onI top of lug'26 and close the port12'l therethrough fand, arranged in the central portion of .this plunger 28 is a packing ring 30 thatprevents water'from passing upwardly f through the tubularmernber Pivotally connected to the upper endf of plunger 28 'isqone' end .of a lever 3| that *is -ful crumed'on a bracket 32 thatis carried by the upper portion of Atubularrmember 24 and, se-

cured to theouter end of this lever 3| is an arm 33 thatcarries a 'conventional flush tank float Under normal conditions, or with a supply of flushing water in tank Ill, float34 is maintained water and air therethrough. Valves 5I and 53 with the interposed disc 52V are secured in position on screw 50 by meansof a washer 54 and the at its upper limit of movement so that plunger 28 is maintained at its lower limitof movement, Y

with disc 29 resting on lug 26 to close portl21:

' Formed through the wall of the upper part 20 of the valve housing is a duct 35, the upper end of which communicates Vvwith the lower portion of latter being engaged by the head 55 of screw 50. Suitably supported in spaced relation above Vbowl 42 so as to cover but not entirely close opening 43, is a disc ,56 having a depending edge which provides a shield for the opening 43 in the topofbowl 42I and prevents extraneous objects from entering the opening 43 to interfere with theproper functioning of the valves 5I and 53.

the chamber in tubular member 24 and the lower end of saidY duct communicates with aport 36Y thatis formed through diaphragm I9 *adjacent-)ffl its edge. The lower endof Yport 36"'communicates with'a pocket or recess31Y that.V is formed in the upper portion of the lower part I6 of -the valve housing and, the loweraportio `of"tl`1is `l pocket communicates with the chambersinzthe Y lowerrpart of the valve housingby means ofja port 138,. VvSecured to valve lhousing member .I6

Y and communicating with the'poeket 31, is a small .Y

tube 39 that: leads Vinto the conventional toilet bowl reiill tube 40 and the'latter leadingdown4 wardly tothe bowl.. y f f, .Y

Connected tothe lower portion of thelower' part 'I6 of the valve housing and 'communicating withi the chamber therein is a pipe 4IV that pro- ,vides a discharge for the water from the chamber Y inthe lower part I6 .of the valve housing into the tank. f

Removably mounted the* upper end of; the tube I3, is the lower end of :a bowl 42, provided.

Undernormal conditions, or with the oat 34 resting on top of the body of water within tank 'I '0 and holding' the valve 29 in the lower end of @plunger 28 on the seat at the upper end of lug h26,port 21 is closed. Water under the pressure carried iri the supply main fills supply 4pipe II,

Vthe arcuate ducts 48' between the tubes 45 and 46, and water lls the bowl 42, the space between tube45 and tubular. member I3 of tting I2, the chamber in the extension I4 of, the ttin'g, the

.smalltubular member 23,. and the chamber in the. upper valve housing member 26 above diaphragmy .Thepressureof the water inthe chamber in' ,the upper housing member 20 acting, on top of;

the diaphragm I9 forces the same onto thel seat- I8, thus preventing the water from entering the chamber within theV lower valve housing member I6 between the wall thereof and the concentric in its top with a circular opening ,43 and, formed on the under side of the edge of the bowl around this opening is a rib 44 that functions `as a valve seat. y f L 'Concentrically arranged within .tubeV I3 is `a smaller tube 4.5, the lower end of. which is seated onalfin cross section with fthevcorners between.

the angular faces having sliding engagement with the inner face ofrtub'e 45.`

y Thisconstruction provides a plurality of longitudinally disposed arcuate ducts'48 between the tubes 45 and 46 and which ducts provide passages for water that flows through tube 45. y

Tubes 45 and 46 are formed of non-corrodible material, forfinstancastainless steel.V

4Formed through, therupperwportion 41 Yof tubev I* 46, just below closed Vend41, are apertures 49 that establish communication between the passageway through the tube 46 'and the chamber within'bowl 42. ,Seated in the closed upper end 41 of tube 46 is the threaded lower end of a screw' A 50. vPositioned on screw 5ll` and resting on the top of tube 46, is a disc valve 5I of rubber orh otherflexible material which, when tube .46 isV moved downward to its limit ofe movement; rests" on the `annular valveseatfvormed by the upper endof' tubets, thus cutting off thejpassageefy water or air through'said tube. 1

Mounted on's'crew'50` and restingfontop of.

valve 5l is awasher 52 and,resting on top of said washer and ,carried by the screwv 50 isa disc valve l53 @f ubber vor like flexible material which, whenk the tubel movesA to upper limit of travel;y

* tubular member I1, thus cuttingoi flowof water downward through pipe 4I, to the tank I9.

The pressurer of the water. in bowl 4,2 holds 'valve 53 against its seat 44, thereby preventing ther escapeof water through opening 43 and like- -wise' preventing airv from entering said'- opening.'

When a'bowl flushing .operation takes place,

the body" of water withinv tank I9 will discharge downwardly into and through the bowl in thev conventional manner and float 34 moves downward, thereby 'elevating plunger 28 to lift valve 29foff its seat and'immediately" the' pressure ofV the` water in thezchamber within upper housing member 20 is relievedr and, 'a small amountrof.-

'water' will pass upwardly through port 21, thence downwardlyr through duct 35, thence through, aperture 36 in thediaphragminto pocket 31 and from thence through tube 39 to refill'tube 40.` At

Vthe same time water will vdischarge through 'porti 38 into the; chamber within the lower valve housY ing member I6.

Asv the pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm I9 is relieved as just described, the `pressure of water` in yfitting I2 will lift the central vportion of the diaphragm 01T the seat I8, thus permitting water to flow from 'fitting VI2 upwardly throughv tubular member- I1; thence into the chamber within the lower valve' housing memberv I 6 and from thence downwardlyv through tube4I to refill the tank'. As the tankis rell'ed,`1loat 34 gradually rises on the upwardly moving surface of th'e waterandenally the plunger 28 is moved downwarduntil valve 29 rests' on its seat andi closes port 21 and, following this closing action,

pressure of the Vwater admitted to the chamberv above the diaphragm I9 through tubular memberV 23 builds upto such a degree as Ato force the da' phragm downwardly onto its seat- I8; `thereby cutting off further' flow of water from the tting I2 into the/chamber within lower valve housing member I6 and from thence'to thetank refill i During 'the flushing operationjust described, valve 53 is maintained' against its' seat 44v by the pressure of thewate in 'meaning l-zand bozwi 42:

engages valve seat 44 and cuts off the passage of 755'; In the eventlth'atpa' break occurs in the water! supply line yat a point below the valve and which breakA tends to set up siphonic action tov draw water fromV thebowl Vand tank and permit the same to flow downwardly through the-supply line, the downward movement of water from the fitting I2V will produce adrop in pressure within bowl 42,and, immediatelyv following such action the suction resulting from the rush of air into the bowl through opening 43, will cause tube 46 and parts carried thereby to instantly move downward until valve I rests on its seat at the upper end of tube 45, thereby positively cutting off the downward now of water through said tube and consequently preventing water from being drawn from the tank through the pipe 4I to the water supply line.

As tube 46 moves downward as just described,

the apertures 49 which are in the round upper portion 4'I of said tube move into position within the upper portion of tube 45 and, as a result of such position and the position of valve 5I on the upper end of tube 45, eiectually cuts off any suction into the upper end of tube 45 and, consequently counteracts siphonic action thatwould Y otherwise tend to draw contaminated water into the line that supplies the tanks with flushing water.

. When the break in the supply line has beenv repaired, the pressure of the water owing upwardly through tube 46 and into bowl 42 instantly moves said tube upwardly so as to reposition valve 53 on its seat 44, thus restoring the antisiphonic valvular structure to its normal condition.

In Fig. '7 I have shown positioned between the tubular portion I3 of fitting I2 and tube 45, a tube 5l formed of thin sheet metal, the wall of which is crimped or corrugated longitudinally, thus forming a plurality of relatively small parallel ducts between the walls of the tubes I3 and 45 and, this construction divides the flow of the entire volume of water through the tubular member I3 and in doing so, it functions as an eifective silencer to counteract the noise that wouldA of my invention is, the construction whereby the Siphon breaking structure, which includes the tube 45, bowl 42, valves 5I and 53, and tube 46 that slides lengthwise within tube 45, is mounted directly on the water supply line for the flush tank and as a result, the anti-siphonic valve structure acts instantly in the event of a break in the main water supply line to effectively prevent siphonic action to draw contaminated water from the bowl and tank into the main supply line.

The operation of the anti-siphonic structure is entirely independent of the operation of the ball cock that controls the water supply to the tank.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an anti-siphonic flush valve and silencerV that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which itis intended.

AIt wiilfbel understood that minor changes in thesize, l,for-.1n and" construction of the various partsv of my improved antij-siphonic iiush valve and silencer,may be made and substitutedfor those herein lshown and described, without departing fl'omrhe Spirit of .my invention, the scope of which is setforth ginsthe appended claims.

I claimfasrm'y invention:

1. In an anti-siphonic flush valve and silencer,

a vertically disposed tubular member, a water supplyinlet in the lower portion thereof, a housing member on the upper portion of said tubular member, which housing member 'is provided in its upper portion with an air inlet opening, an

` concentrically arranged tube and sliding tube be- Where low l open ended tube concentrically arranged with respect to and extending lengthwise through said tubular member for receiving water from the supply inlet to which said concentrically arranged tube is connected, a tube extendingl through and arranged for sliding movement in said concentrically arranged tube, valvular means carried by the upper portion of said sliding tube for alternately closing the' air inlet opening in said housing and the open upper end of the concentrically arranged tube, therebeing a water outlet opening formed in the upper portion of said'sliding tube and the space between said ing divided throughout the lengths of said latter tubes to form a plurality of longitudinally disposed water flow ducts. Y

2. In an anti-siphonic flush valve and silencer, a vertically disposed tube, a water supply inlet in the lower portion of -said tube, said tube being I provided in its lower portion with an outlet, there Vmentioned tube, there being an opening in the upper portion of said third mentioned tube below said valve and means whereby the flow of liquid upwardly between said second and third mentioned tubes is restricted.

3. In an anti-siphonic flush valve and silencer,

a verticallyv disposed tube, a water supply inlet in the lower portion of said tube, said tube'being provided in its lower portion with an outlet, there being an air inlet opening in the upper portion of said tube, Aan open ended tube extending through said rst mentioned tube and having its lowerV end connected to the .water supply inlet,

' a third tube extending lengthwise through said second mentioned tube, valvular means carried by the upper portion of said lthird mentioned tube for alternately closing the air inlet opening in the upper portion of said housing and the upper end of said secondmentioned tube, there being an opening in the upper portion of said third mentioned tube below said valvular means and means whereby the flow of liquid upwardly between said second and third mentioned tubes is restricted.

4. In an anti-Siphonic flush valve and silencer, a substantially U-shaped housing'a water supplyinlet in thev lower end of one leg of said housing, the other leg of said housing being adapted to receive the operating parts of a iiush valve, an open ended tube extendingthrough the leg of said housing that is connected to the 4 Y` 2,283,973 f water-supply inlet, there'belne an'air inlet openportion of the leg of the housing through which ing formed inthe upper portionof the Vleg of the said tubesl extend and means whereby the flow housing that is connected to the water supply f of liquid between the two tubes is restricted. inlet,` a tube extending lengthwise throughand ,I 5. An anti-Siphonic` ilush valve and silencer as arranged for sliding movement within said open 5 set forth in claim 4 and there being an opening ended tube, valvular means carried .bythe upper formed through theupper portionlof the sliding end of` said sliding tube and adapted to altertube below thevalvular means carried thereby.' nately close the air inlet opening in the upper LOREN En CRISS. 

